Portable low-pressure oil-burning forge



June 12, 1928. 1,673,558

H. T. GERDES El AL PORTABLE LOW PRESSURE OIL BURNING FORGE Filed NOV. 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR lKv/Zer 62 /29 and syl /emyffi ds. ,1 I 4 June 12., 1928. 1,673,558

. H. T. GERDES ET AL PORTABLE LOW PRESSURE OIL BURNING FORGE Filed Nov. 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 36 /45 M/terCfilze and ATTORNEY 4 7 B r y Fries.

Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. GERDES; OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WALTER C ELZE, OF WOOD- HAVEN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOBS TO HAUCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BROOK- LYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PORTABLE LOW-PRESSURE OIL-BURNING FORGE.

Application filed November 19, 1924.

The invention relates to a portable forge or furnace unit, especially suitable for the heating of rivets and other metal objects; and it has for its object to so design an apparatus of this character that the same will be self-contained and readily operated, even under conditions Where other types would .not be suitable, and require no particular skill or intelligence on the part of an op erator. The novel unit is designed to carry a blower or like apparatus for atlording air under pressure, eliminating thereby the usual and necessary considerable lengths of piping or hose.

A further object of the invention is to render unnecessary any adjustments after the device has once been set for operation. A still further object, of the invention con sists in the novel arrangement of the various parts whereby the apparatus complies with safety and insurance requirements, a relatively low pressure being maintained on the liquid fuel, as oil, employed; and the said pressure, furthermore, prevailing only during the operation of the forge.

A still further and most important feature of the invention consists in the novel arrangement whereby the air pressure is built up gradually, the burner receiving air prior to oil, and the reverse taking place upon shutting down of the apparatus. This arrangement promotes safety of operation in that oil in bulk 18 prevented from being ejected from the burner nozzle.

A still further object consists in the novel arrangement whereby the particular position o l' the forge is substantially without clfcct in checking the flow ol air thru the burner air line or of sealing such burner air line by oil: and. furthermore, whereby, should oil for any reason find its way in proximity to such lines. it may be caused to drain hack into this supply tank under the action of gravity. The invention has for its object also the limiting of the oil level in the filling of the supply tank.

A still further object of the invention resides in the localizing of all controls at one point. that is to say. suliislantially eliminating the human element. it being required merely to close an electric circuit to a lowpowered electric motor, running on for ex- Serial No. 750,822.

ample an ordinary M0 or 220 volt circuit, for elfecting the operation of the forge. This arrangementadmits of the ready provision of a safety switch directly on the apparatus or its frame-work in conformity with the underwriters requirements.

The novel tank construction for retaining the liquid fuel as oil admits, also, of the continuous passage of comparatively cool air over said oil so that its temperature is maintained relatively low at all timesapproximatcly that of the surrounding atmosphere. This further reduces the lire hazard in eliminating preheating of said oil, which is quite unnecessary if the proper mixture of air and oil is set once for all to afford perfeet combustion. The apparatus thereafter requires no further adjustments or setting of valves as the combustible mixture quickly builds up upon completion of an electric circuit to operate devices which control both the air and fuel supply, the air supply serving not only to atomize the liquid fuel employed but, preferably, also to effect its delivery from the tank which contains the same. The particular arrangement of air and fuel supply set forth admits also of minimizing the effect of pulsations in the air supply apparatus by affording a storage space for this air separate and distinct from said oil.

A still further object of the invention resides in the particular combination of the fuel supply and the control for the air supply whereby the mixture issuing from the l'HH'flt'I for combustion may be made relatively lean or rich by a single :n'ljiMment.

The nature of the invention. however. will best be ui'iderstood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings. in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the forge unit; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a def-tail vertical section thru the oil supply tank; and Fig. l a transverse section taken on the line 44-. Fig. I), lookinn in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings. ll) designates a suitable frame for supporting the forge or furnace which may be carried as a whole. for example. upon a pair of wheels ll to permit of the units being conveniently moved about,

rs by drawing on the handle 14. attached to the forward end of the frame. The various members gqmpr-isigg the -iuo,vahle. portable unit Me-Jxirziirgedoiithin the iiamentructrue in manner to best economize space, but with the heating chamber at the up- PEiflfinQst'"par'tthereot. This portion of the apparatus is of "any we'll-known or standard type of heater provided with, for exan'iple. a lateral opening 16 torintroduyeing and re moving the rivets or other metal objects which it is desired to:l1eat..-A-.shelt 1-1Y as. well as a rivet pan 18 located below the same sane, also preferably --tlSSOClitt6( l"-\lFl-tll seid iheater port-ion otyth'e apparatus: At

' i l-in.to r wardend of the iu'rna'oe :i-s arranged agicombustion box 19 with which is :ussoabate-clothe burner- 20 directing therein. the combustible mixture for heating the heater 1 5 itoitibe desired ten'iperature.- This burner may oe-oi any well-knowntypc; and is-proferably ofathe type-shown in S. Patent No.-=11,4'85-,731. innwhieh means are provided for 'controlling; theair orifice of the:burner. In 'the buBner QO illustrated, however, this "rcontrolxisetfeotcd thru the rotation of an anniulnu member 2-1 about the {forward end of the bu rner-moving its adjustable tip afielowthe heater 1:5 is located the :fuel bank which is adapted to contain an ample 1". supply 0% liquid fuel-such as kerosenenor heavier -oil :suitafble' for providing the desiredtemperature-inthe heater or furnace proper-'15.= Connection is 'madefrom the fuel :tanlrgto the burneriQO thru a :pipe 2-6 for :supplying'ithe i oi'l \thereto and 1 also thru a npip'e EY's'ifor iproviding tlie necessary air for the combustion as iwellas for the at-. omization' ot'the liquid fuel; :As will hereinafter be set forth, .theair is alsocaused to deliver the oil from the'tank 25 to the hut-merit). I

The air is olitainedxinitially from a blower 28 or similar apparatus for atlording air under pressure. said blower 'being" mounted.

together with an electric motor. :29..on a suitable shelf 30-located beneath the tank 25. the raid blower being directly connected to the motor by means of a shaft 29. Thisznotor serves. thus. to operate the blower.

electric energy being provided for this pur- -terior source of power (not shown).

pose t-hru a suitable switch device as theplug and socket connection 31. the socket being connected thru :1 cable 32 with the motor and the plug thru a cable 33 with an ex- This arrangement at the same time provides a safety switch upon the apparatus and at which the circuit may quickly be opened. thus conforming with underwriters requirements. As will hereinafter he more fully set forth. the ent re operation of the furnace is dependent upon the connection being established at the plus: and socket 31. It is believed the operation of the blower .to ;the tank but i also to =one another.

and connected motor 29 will be apparent without further explanation.

I Ln rder to insure the roper operation of th-e burner and supply o fuel thereto under all conditions and with the greatest simplicity of operation, .the tank 251s specially-eonstrueted and the location of the yarious inlets and-outlets respectively to and frio m the same hear an important relation not only Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings-it wiikl be noted that the tank 25 is provided with suitable means to prevent floodi'i'ig lot the airsupply line; for examip'le-thrir the inter )osi-ng of an inclined longitudinally extending partition or' bafile 35 neai' it-he' upper portion of said ta-n k This pa idfiition extendsclear aeross'the'ta-nlr trour-side 'to side-and 'is fittedtonne end thereof. At the opposite end' it 'terminates at a. verttically 'disposed wall -or transverse partition 36 which extends irom the top -o'f the tank entirely acrosssameanddownward I1 lgv to a-short distancefrom the bottom-and forms q with the corresponding "end walla til-ling compartment-37. {Into-this eom partment extends, thru the top of tlhe tank, a

iilling tu-be-38 which -is provided exteriorlv ing-the iillingoftthe tanlrbeyond -a-ipredetcrmined level, indicated. i

liquid fuel admitted into the eompart meant- 37 thruthe filling tube '38 extending therein will flow into the main "body of the tank 25 thru thespace 45 afiorded between the lower edge of the wall 36 and the bottom of said tank. In View :ofthe-position of the level determining means herei n'be'fore set tooth. it will not be possible to fill-.gthi-s tank to a height-exceeding the lower end of the inclined wall 35 and the level is-preferahly sen'iewhat 'below some. as'indicated..- The liquid fuel is taken from the bottom of the tank thru the :outlet tube 26 which passes into-the said tanlcand has an opening 46-111: its innermost end. said end being 'located a slightdistanixe above the bott-an'rot the tank. in order to force the liquid fuel thru this tube 26. it is preferred tocmploy air under pressure which is arranged to be supplied thereto. as thru the air supply pipe 47 whose one end is connected to 'theiblower 28 and whose other end extends into the comparh ment 48 formed between the upper WEI-ll of the tank and the partition 35. the said pipe 47 passing; also thru the lower portion-of the tank and having its inner end extending-an appreciable distance above the partition 35. A series of openings 50 are provided in the wall 36 both above and below the partition to peiuiit the air from the compartment 48 to enter the compartment .37 and to the liquid fuel in the tank 25 to expel same therefrom. The air from the compartment 48, furthermore, is supplied thru the pipe 27, connected at the top of the tank, to the burner and serves not only to atomize the fuel supplied to the burner thru the pipe but thereby also to lift the same thereto thru the suction effect produced in the burner.

By the particular construction of tank hereiubefore described, it will be appreciated that the partition 35 will serve as a baflle or splash plate to prevent liquid fuel from accumulating in the upper portion or coinpartn'ient 48 of the tank notwithstanding various positions which the apparatus may assume in use and which liquid fuel might otherwise seal off the air connections. Moreover, the compartment 48 serves also to minimize the effect of any pulsations in the supply of the air from the blower 28. Furthermore, should any liquid fuel by chance reach the compartment 4b, the inclined position of the partition 35 will assist in draining the same, thru openings 51 at the lower end of the partition, away from the openings of the pipes 47 or 27, the latter being shown as located at the extreme forward end of the compartment.

In operation, the apparatus is started merely by the closing of the circuit at the plug and socket connection 31, constituting also a safety switch, and which starts up the motor 29 and also thereby the blower 28. The air pressure gradually increasing as the motor speeds up, air will be forced to the burner 20 followed by liquid fuel from the tank 25; and thus there is provided a mixture which is gradually built up to the full volume. the reverse taking place upon shutting down of the apparatus so that at no time will be possible for liquid fuel in bulk to be supplied to the furnace. Moreover. in utilizing with the said arrangement of a common means of insuring the fuel and air supply, a burner of the type hereinbefore noted and whereby a control of the air orifice at burner is possible. the novel combination admits of a convenient and simple adjust men! for varying the character of the mixture. That is to say. if the annular member 21 be turned in one direction the air orifice of the burner is contracted and if turned in the reverse direction its area is increased. In the former case. the volume of air passing thru the orifice decreases: and by so doing. builds up air pressure in the tank 25 to cause oil to pass out in greater volume and thus enrich the mixture. On the other hand, lr; increasing the voluu'ic of air passing thru the burner orifice. a r duction in pressure in the tank results so that less oil will be delivered and the mixture consequently becomes leaner.

"0 claim 1. A portable forge comprising a furnace, a burner associated therewith adapted to project a flame into the interior thereof, a liquid fuel supply tank connected with the burner, an inclined. partition therein extending from one end of the tank toward the other to provide an air pocket between said partition and the wall of the tank, an air pipe opening into said pocket, an outlet connection from said air pocket to the burner, a blower, an electric motor for driving same, a frame for supporting the aforesaid furnace, tank and motor-driven blower, connections between the said blower and the said tank air pipe, and means to control the operation of said motor.

2. A portable forge comprising a furnace, a burner associated therewith adapted to project a flame into the interior thereof, a liquid fuel supply tank connected with the burner, an inclined partition therein, provided with an outlet opening, and extending from one end of the tank toward the other to provide an air pocket between said partition and the wall of the tank, an air pipe opening into said pocket, an outlet connection from said airpocket to the burner, a blower, an electric motor for driving same, a frame for supporting the aforesaid furnace, tank and motor-driven blower, connections between the said blower and the said tank air pipe, and means to control the operation of said motor.

3. A portable forge comprising a furnace, a burner associated therewith adapted to project a flame into the interior thereof, a liquid fuel supply tank connected with the burner, an inclined partition therein, provided with an outlet opening, and extending from one end of the tank toward the other to provide an air pocket between said partition and the wall of the tank, an air pipe opening into said pocket thru said partition, an outlet connection from said air pocket to the burner, an oil outlet from the bottom of the tank to the burner, means to limit the liquid fuel level when charging the tank, a blower, an electric motor for driving same, a frame for supporting the aforesaid furnace, tank and motor-driven blower, connections between said blower and the said tank air pipe, and means to control the operation of said motor.

a. A portable forge comprising a furnace, a burner associated therewith adapted to project a flame into the interior thereof, a liquid fuel supply tank, an inclined partition therein, provided with an outlet opening, and extending from one end of the tank toward the other to provide an air pocket between said partition and the wall of the tank. an air pipe opening into said pocket thru said partition, an outlet connection from said air pocket to the burner, an oil connection from the bottom of the tank to the foumex, 1afilling (mice extending into the tank and lmving ibsinletopening aha level below the lowerend 0 15- the said inclined part ition.;-a bl-owegman el'ectric motor for drivmy;swme, aframwfor-supporting the aforesaid furnace, tank and mebordriven blower, (:onnections lwxwew th'e said "bkwver mad the.

said tankr =pi e, and m e'ans'm con trol' we opemabimwf said mater.

Signed at -Brook lyn in the county of 10 Kings and State of New York this 11th 'day of Nave-miner, D. 1924. 4 BY '1. GERDES. \VAIH-ER 'C. ELZE| 

